This week, shockwaves rippled through the NFL after league commissioner Roger Goodell levied stiff penalties against the New Orleans Saints for their involvement in a bounty program that rewarded team’s defenders for injuring opposing players.

The NFL suspended former Cowboys assistant and New Orleans coach Sean Payton for one season, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams indefinitely, general manager Mickey Loomis for eight games, and assistant head coach Joe Vitt for six games. The Saints also lost two second-round picks in upcoming drafts.

It was a draconian punishment in every sense of the word. But its intent was crystal clear, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said.

“Well, I don’t want to be a critic or give a critique on that ruling,” Jones said. “I know that the league did consider it and certainly the commissioner exhibited that as a very serious matter. I think sometimes when the initial determination of conduct is made the ones that are involved in it at that time get what would be the stiffest and most harsh treatment.

“That makes sense and if anybody’s got any sense they sure won’t go down that road again after seeing that treatment.” Jones continued. “But the message is loud and clear: It’s a physical game at its very least, but we want a game that has all the respect in the world for players’ health among each other. And really that prevails 99.9 percent of the time.”

Still, the league wants all clubs to establish in writing that they do not operate a system that resembles the one implemented by the Saints. In fact, Jones must meet with head coach Jason Garrett to ensure that no such program exists and notify the league by March 30 that the conference took place.